Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-30


On the southeast face:
Major-General, q. S. v;
Member OF Congress;
senator and President OF the United States OF
America.
On the north face:
Erected by his Comrades
Of the Society OF the Army Of the Cumberland
May II, 1887.
THE FISHERY QUESTION.
Capt. Collins Says Canada Has No VAL
liable Privileges to Give Us.
he ANALYzEs THE SITUATION FOR STAR REPORTER
NO INDICTMENT TO AMERICAN FISHERMEN TO PoAcH
IN CANADIAN WATERSHEDS PRACTICAL ASPECT OF
THE CAsE-How CANADA NAY BRING ABOUT Her
OWN DlSCoMFITURE.
'1f Canada should freely grant American fisher
men all Of her fishery privileges said Capt Col
Inns, OF the U. 8. Fish Commission, to q STAR re-
porter, "there would be none that our fisher
men would avail themselves of. Canada has no
fisheries that we want or would have il they were
freely given to US. All the fish that are to be
caught with any profit are in the deep seas. With
all have seen written on this subject from both
sides of the controversy this one thing seems to
| be ignored, or not known. The only inshore fish,
cry Canada has Is along the shore OF New Bruins
| wick, on the coast Of Prince Edwards Island, and
off the north coast Of Cape Breton Island
WITHIN THE THREE-MILB LIMIT.
"Now you will see,' he added, spreading chart
on the table, you will see by this that the shall
low water extends out a considerable distance,
and can tell you that there are many sharp rocks
there. You see here, following down the shore OF
New Brunswick within the miles, it iSS fathomS,
and here 10, again ID, then l2 next Is (Jhat Is the
DEEPEST then again 8, TO- 10 and ID fathoms; the
same way along the coast Of Prince Edwards and
ana Cape Breton: There is no place Within ),
would cast his nets without danger OF losing more
than he could gain, since his seine would probably
be destroyed. Years ago, when they caught
mackerel with hook and line these fisheries were
OF some value perhaps, but now the fishing is done
altogether with purse seines of from 10 TO p
fathOmS. There are few places within miles u
shore where these seineS could be cast without
danger OF their being torn to pieces on the sharp
rocks. our fishermen could not afford to run this
risk. Besides, by far the best catch Is out where
they have perfect eight to fish without Canadian
or other interference. There used TO be fsling In
the Straits OF Belle ISLE There the inshore fishing
some value, but 1t has been fifteen years since
American vessels stopped going there"
THE BAIT QUESTION.
"SQuid are caught about the coast Of the British
Provinces for bait, but they are caught outside
also. The privilege OF buying bait is a conve-
nience to American fishermen. The sale of bait
is a necessity to the Canadians II they cannot
get market for their bait the bait-catchers will
starve, as has been SAID by member OF thef
house Of assembly. They must sell their products.
and how much more convenient to have the mar
ket come TO them! But our fishermen don't
always have to buy this bait. have seen vessels
60 out from New England without bait, and catch
all they needed on The banks where they caught
their cod There We're frequent instances Of this
in the summer and fail OF 1856. 1t Is often de-
strable to have fresh Dait, but not an absolute
necessity. on ice it win keep fresh two or three
weeks; then they have to bait up again. 1t is
probably convenient to land for the purpose Of re-
pairing damages 10 nets, but under strict con-
St:uctiOn OF the treaty OF 1913 they ought TO have
right TO do this. Inc treaty permits landing for
ranlfp .r1f ftny N npf H. al 70
pairs is II it were the vessel herself that was
damaged. The treaty does not define what re
pairs shall be. Canada, say, has
NO FISHING PRIVILEGES
of value to give the United States. II she had it
would not he in the power Of that government to
grant them to us, nor just to her own citizens.
The native fishermen would not permit foreigners
to engage Unfortunately In inshore fishing.
They would not recognize any right OF the govern
ment to grant such a privilege, and they would
drive of foreigners who attempted to exercise 1t,
as has been done in the past at Fortune Bay and
elsewhere. The claim know has been made that
Canada has jurisdiction over the whole Gulf OF ST.
Lawrence and the Atlantic lying off its coast, but
nobody will concede this. 1t is preposterous
claim, that has been put forth TO miSlead the
public.
THE IMPORTANT FISHING GROUNDS.
"After all, he added the most important fish,
ing grounds, even for mackerel are not off the
Canadian shore. According to a report on the
fishing grounds OF North America, prepared by the
United States Fish Commission, the total area Of
OF the United states is $1,000 square geographical
miles. Here, in our own waters, the most extern
sive and valuable mackerel fishery of the world Is
carried on. In addition TO this, our fishermen
have the right to fish in the waters OF the Gulf Of
st. Lawrence, outside the three-mile limit; and
thus is opened to them an additional area Is 200
square miles. making total Of more than 10000
square miles. over watch they have an unQues-
toned right to prosecute their operations Now,
II we estimate the area OF inshore waters fire.
Quented by our fishermen in pursuit OF macKerel,
we will be abe TO get an idea OF their rela
tive importance, always supposng that the fish,
cry can be prosecuted as We'll inShOre as il can of
which Is not the fact. The north shore Of Prince
Edwards Island and Cape Breton are the localities
visited by American vessels In pursuit OF mackere
The total area OF the inshore waters in these re-
gions, commonly resorted to by American fisher
men, does not much exceed 775 square miles Gf
we follow the coast nne,, about one per cent OF
the area OF the mackerel fishing grounds to which
they have an unquestioned right. Or, il we in
cIude the south shore of Nova Scotia and Cane
Breton, the east side OF Cape Breton and what is
known as the West Shore'-frOm Point Escune-
nae to Point Miscou-in the Gulf OF St Lawrence.
we shall h I'VE total area OF 2,064 square miles,
II should be distinctly understood that the fish
erInen OF the United States do not engage in the
herring fishery, SO far as catching herring in
Canadian waters is concerned, for even under the
Washington treaty herring were bought from the
Canadians either for bait or for food the cod and
haibut fisheries are carried on in She open sea on
the great ocean banks where the United states
has as much right OF ownership as either Canada
Great DIlIilil, anu lue ulackeTel QSlefy Is the
only one that would or could be followed by
Americans in inshore British waters. and it has
clearly been shown that even this cannot he
profitably prosecuted there. There is no induces
menI to steal fish which would not be caught IL
there were no restrictions
Canadian writer's accuse us Of poachIng. and
some OF our own writer's speak OF treaty privileges
as II we were dependent upon Canada for the rfght
to fish in the open sea OF her coast These writers
are evidently ignorantof the subject The MARQUIS
OF Lorne anG MIR. Leggo have written on the sub
ject. They may know all about diplomacy and In.
fishermen catch their fish. Our fishermen do moi
poaeh. They do not cast their nets in valuable
Canadian fisheries; they do not want to dc, 90
There is no inducement In it. They make bet.
ter catch outside, where they have perfect rfQht
to fish, with no risk to their seines.
PRIVILEGES GRANTED CANADrArs
ssThe only special privileges that anybody pets
under the present arrangement" Capt. Collins
continued, ''are such as the Canadians have de-
rived from landing in American markets free of
duty. fresh fish forlmmediate consumption. When
the privilege OF landing fresh sh free was granted
to Canadians, the keeping OF fish on ice was not in
concentration. Since ice has been used for this
purpose it means the free entry of a very large
amount OF Canadian fish, and the privileges il
worth many thousand dollars year to Canada
more than the intrinsic value OF all the fish Amer
leans would ever catch in Canadian waters even
IL they fished unrestricted within the three.mile
limit
aIn view of the great benefit derived nv Canada
through the free entry OF fresh flsh to American
to such harsh and unfriendly treatment of our
fishermen Is IL not possible that this insisting
upon the pound OF flesh may result In her own dis.
cOmfiture7"
QUESTION AS BROAD As THE COUNTRY.
oThis is not q question" he added aas many